Bob Elliott (basketball) facts for kids

Robert Alan Elliott, born on August 18, 1955, is a former American basketball player. He was a fantastic player both on the court and in the classroom. Bob Elliott was named an All-American three times while playing for the University of Arizona.

He helped his team win a championship in the Western Athletic Conference. They also played in the NCAA tournament twice. Bob was recognized as an All-American for his athletic skills and his excellent grades. He earned degrees in accounting and business from the University of Arizona. Later, he even became the chairman of the Retired NBA Players Association.

Bob Elliott's College Basketball Journey

Bob Elliott joined the University of Arizona from Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Many people who love Arizona basketball say that Bob helped make the team famous. This happened under the guidance of coach Fred "The Fox" Snowden. Coach Snowden was the first African-American head basketball coach in Division I college basketball.

At that time, another team, UCLA, was very strong on the West Coast. But Tucson, Arizona, began to grow into a major university city. Thanks to Coach Snowden's era, basketball games were always sold out. This brought a lot of attention and money to the sport.

People described Bob Elliott as having an amazing "drop step" move. This is a special way to score points close to the basket. During his college career from 1973 to 1977, he scored an average of 18.6 points per game. He is still second on the University of Arizona's all-time scoring list with 2,131 points. Only Sean Elliott has scored more.

Bob also holds high records for field goals, attempted field goals, free throws, and attempted free throws. In 1977, he scored 39 points in one game against Utah. This is the fourth-best single-game performance in the history of the University of Arizona.

Playing in the NBA and Beyond

After his college career, Bob Elliott was chosen by the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA draft. However, he never played for the 76ers. Instead, he spent about six months playing basketball in Europe.

Then, he played for three seasons with the New Jersey Nets in the NBA. After his time in the NBA, Bob also played briefly for the Detroit Spirits. This was a team in the Continental Basketball Association during the 1982–83 season.

Bob Elliott: A Voice in Video Games

Many younger fans might know Bob Elliott's voice from video games. He worked as a "color-commentator" for the NBA Live games. He did this from 1999 to 2003.

He worked alongside the late sportscaster Don Poier. A color-commentator helps explain the game and adds interesting insights during broadcasts.

Giving Back to the Community

Bob Elliott is very involved in helping others. He supports many charities. He and his wife have even started a scholarship at the University of Arizona. This scholarship helps students pay for their education.

Bob is also a talented musician. He plays at national events with the NBA Retired Players Association Band. This band often performs at NBA Cares events, which are all about giving back to communities. His wife, Beverely, is also very active in the community. She works with the Tucson Unified School District and a group for retired players' wives. She has won awards for counseling and has multiple college degrees.

Author of "Tucson A Basketball Town"

On February 26, 2014, Bob Elliott released a book called "Tucson A Basketball Town." He wrote this book with his former teammate and NBA player, Eric Money. The book tells the story of how basketball became so popular at the University of Arizona. It focuses on the time when Fred Snowden was the coach.

The book talks about how the team was the first to play in the McKale Center. It also discusses how racial barriers were broken in sports. The book highlights the amazing support that Tucson fans gave to the players. It also honors Arizona basketball teams from before Coach Snowden's time, through the era of coach Lute Olson, and up to coach Sean Miller.

His Life Today

Today, Bob Elliott lives in Tucson, Arizona. He and his wife, Beverely, have four adult children. They also have ten grandchildren!

Besides his basketball history, Bob also owns a successful accounting business. His company, Elliott Accounting Group, has been helping people in Tucson for over 30 years.

See also

In Spanish: Bob Elliott para niños

• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds